Automatic can filling apparatus



April 8, 1947, w. SEVE RSON 1 ,7

' AUTOMATIC cmfnpme APPARATUS 'Filed July 15, 1943 s Sheets-Sheet 1 April l. w. SEVERSON 2,418,794

' AUTOMATIC CAN FILLING APPARATUS I FiledJul 15, 194:: s Sheets-Sneet s Wwm mimmmmm atented Kappa ildd? anti air rein of one-half to Horatio Le Gros, New flrleans,

Application July 15, 1943, Serial No. 494,871

This invention relates to automatic can filling apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to automatic can filling apparatus of the gravityfiow type.

Heretofore, can filling-apparatus, especially for filling cans with oil or the like, consisted of rather complicated expensive apparatus embodying electrically operated devices such as motors, pumps, etc., as well as electrically powered meters, counters, registers and the like, also timing mechanism, with regard to dispensing of the oil into the cans and these known apparatus require frequent attention and replacement of parts and therefore are not altogether satisfactory for the purpose intended. Then too, in the use of such prior can filling apparatus, it has been quite difficult, if not impossible, to fill cans either simultaneously or successively without incurring a splashing and slushing of some of the oil or the like on the outer side ofthe can.

In my automatic can filling apparatus, I dispense with any and all electrical or pneumatic power operated means for the operation thereof and utilize solely that power caused by the gravity now of the oil through my apparatus to efiect dispensing thereof into containers which may be allof the same size or of various sizes. In the use of my automatic can filling apparatus, the oil at the outset upon being dispensed into the bottom of the can, so'to speak, is ejected therein in a rela- 18 Claims. (Cl. 226-408) 'mammum number of cans in a given period of time.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an automatic can filling apparatus that may be readily adjusted to enable the filling of various sized cans without any material change or substitution of any mechanical parts.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an automatic can filling device of the gravity flow type that will fill various sized cans with the accuracy and speed demanded in the present day filling devices and one that will not cause splashing and sloshing of the oil over the outside of the cans that are being filled.

It will be understood that the terms can or cans and "oil are used as terms of description and not limitation, and that they are generic of any kind of container and fluid or semi-fluid capable of use in connection with my automatic can filling apparatus.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists'in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the claims hereto appended,

tlvely small quantity and then this quantity of oil 7 is increased as the filling progresses up toand past one-half of the contents of the container and then gradually decreases in fiow so that as the can becomes filled, the supply is such' that it will not cause a splashing or slushing of any of the contents of the voil on the outer sides of the cans that have been filled.

My automatic can filling apparatus is such that cans of various sizes may be filled simultaneously and, of course, cans all of the same size may be filled simultaneously in any number that may be desired. This automatic can filling apparatus may be referred to as a continuous flow for the filling of cans of the same or various sizes as will be seen from the description hereinafter set forth.

.In view of the foregoing, it is therefore an object of my invention to provide automatic can filling apparatus of relatively simple construction as compared with prior known apparatus of this character.

it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and details of construction,

within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

My invention will be more readily understood by referring to the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the automatic can filling apparatus showing certain parts in section;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the said apparatus with a portion of the manifold thereof and two of the filling valves, not shown; v

Figure 3 is a front elevational view showing a certain part of the operating mechanism for the filling valves and the manifold to which the separate connections for the filling valves are attached and also showing the cans that are to be filled;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of that part of my apparatus showing the main and auxan upper portion of iliary drive shafts and the transmission (gear- Figure 8 is a top plan view of the changespeed transmission gear casing and'showing the gear shifting means; and

Figure 8d is a detail-view of one of the gear shifting levers partly in section.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, my automatic can filling apparatus consists of a supply pipe I into which oil from any suitable source is flowed as at J. A header valve 2 controls the inlet of oil into this said supply pipe, An outlet'connection 3 at thelower end of the supply pipe leads into a. strainer 4 wherefrom the oil therein flows through cbnnection' 5 into a metering device 6. The metering deviceor "fluid meter" is shown in the patent to Granberg, 1,811,789, June 23,- 1931. This is a conventional positive displacement meter. Of course, other meters of this character may be used. This strainer has therein a remdvable wire mesh screen 4' for purposes of cleaning same. Mounted upon this metering device is a supporting bracket 1 of substantially inverted V shape and -may be made of strap iron, as shown. Thisbracket has its lower ends 8 flanged outwardly and attached to the metering device by means of bolts 9.

A laterally extending shelf or support I!) is secured to the said bracket i in any suitable manner as by welding or the like, and this shelf constitutes a support for a bearing bracket, later described.

Extending upwardly from the metering device 6 is a shaft I2. This shaft I2 derives itspower from the gravity force of the oil passing through the metering device, and through suitable gearing or like connections therein, shown at l2,

rotation of the same is effected. The shaft 12 in turn drives shaft l3, which is connected to the gearing indicated generally at 14, and which gearing effects rotation of crank disc H which has connected therewith connecting rods l5 and I! which through suitable connections, later to parent opening through which the set of re-' volving indicating wheels, not shown, may be resettable manually by turning the rotatable notched reset knobs, indicated at la. The metering device 8 is provided with an outlet discharge connection 18 which is opposite the inlet thereof and to this said'connection IS a. conventional' quick releasing cut-off rotatable valve i9 is attached, the said valve being operable by means of levers 20 and 2|, the latter having a link mechanism 22 secured thereto and extending into the meter 6 and connected therein to the cut-off mechanism, not shown, and acts as an automatic shut-oif' whenused in conjunction with the meter. A manifold, indicated generally at 23, is connected with the said valve H, as indicated at 24.

The manifold 23 consists of a portion 23' which is substantially U-shaped and has two upstanding legs of the U indicated-at 25'and 26, and

viewed and which set of said wheels arein turn a night portion 21 connecting the same. The leg 25 of the U-shaped manifold at its upper end is provided with an elbow 28 which inturn has connected with it a tubular extension pipe portion 28' and at the lower downwardly projecting end of which is attached valve 28. The opposite or other spaced leg of the U portion 26 of the manifold has a T coupling 3!! closed at one end 30' and at its other end having screw-threaded thereinto, or otherwise secured, the continuation of the manifold 3| which is horizontally disposed. Connected with the manifoldas by screw threading connections, welding or otherwise, are a plurality of downwardly extending spaced tubular pipes 32 which are similar to the said pipe 28' and at the lower end of the first one of which is connected outlet discharge valve 29 and to the lower end of the others of which are connected similar discharge valves 29'. Each of the said discharge valves have secured to their extreme lower end a discharge nozzle 33.

The foregoing subject matter is a general description of my automatic can filling apparatus. It is to be understood that the positive metering device 6, the counter mechanism'C, and the quickreleasing cut-off valve I9 are not my inventions as these devices are conventional and are'used by me in the arrangement described to effect automatic' gravity flow dispensing of oil into cans.

Shaft l2, which has a splined'connection I2, is driven by the force of the ,oil passing through the metering device 6, and has a bevel pinion gear 34 keyed thereto at its upper end which is in mesh with a bevel pinion gear 35, the latter being keyed to the drive shaft B. The drive shaft i3 is supported in a bracket 35, which bracket is attached as by riveting or otherwise, to the underside of the laterally projecting shelf ID. This bracket has a downwardly projecting bifurcated portion providing spaced bearings 36 and the shaft I3 is adaptable for support and rotation in said bearings. for the change-speed gearing has an adjustable connection 3'1 intermediate its ends, which connection is a typical plug and socket arrangement wherein the squared end 13 of thedrive shaft is secured in the socket by means of belts or the like 38, and therefore permits of some relative adjustment of the shaft, if necessary.

It is to be noted that collars 39 are secured to the shaft ill by means of screw-threaded studs 40 on opposite sides of one of the bearings 36, thus fixing the drive shaft I3 so as to prevent longitudinal movement thereof with respect to the bracket in which it is mounted.

The change-speed gearing mechanism, more clearly shown in Figures 4, 7 and 8, consists of a formed and through which bearings the drive.

shaft 13 extends. Additional bearings 4| on the d pposite sides of the gear casing and in vertical alignment with the aforesaid first mentioned bearings are provided substantially medially of the casing and mounted in said heat-- ings is a rotatable stub shaft 42, one end of which projects beyond'the said sideof the casing and the bearing thereat as at 43.

'Suitable gears, as shown, four in number, 44, 45, 46 and 41, allof different ratios, are movably mounted on the drive shaft [3 within the gear case and these gears are adapted to be brought into engagement with suitable gears 44', 45', 46' and 41' respectively. all of differ- The drive shaft 13 V ent ratios, and each fixedly mounted on the stub shaft within the gear case, as shown.

Any suitable means may be employed to effect a shifting of the various gears in order to obtain meshing relationship of any one set of gears through slot S in a preferably removable gear case cover R. Each of the said gear shift lever arms is provided with a button or operating knob P whereby upon movement of same, any one set of gears may be brought into or out of mesh, as desired. If, however, two sets of gears of different ratios should accidently or inadvertently be brought into mesh simultaneously, no damage would result to the filling mechanism as the same would immediately lock and stop the flow of liquid.

The set of gears engaged, or in 'mesh, determines. the speed of actuating the outlet valves or determines the quantity-of oil to be dispensed through the discharge nozzles-of the outlet valves.

The ratio of the set of gears engaged or meshed, determines the quantity of liquid dispensed so that any predetermined quantity may be dispensed by using the corresponding ratio gears as will be hereinafter described. One means of support for the gear case is to provide an integral projection at 68 at spaced points in the bight portion of the U of the manifold and to secure the gear case thereto by means of abolt or similar securing means d9.

The mechanism for effecting opening and closing of the valve 29 and 29 is as follows: The crank shaft disc i5 is secured to the projected end 68 of the stub shaft 62 and is rotatable there'- with. A crank arm 55 having a slot 52 thereinwhich provides for adjustment, is secured to the said crank disc by means of screw-threaded both of the valves as will be referred to later hereinafter. A

a link 59 which is horizontally disposed, to be detachably connected tothe operating arm 58 of the valve 29 as at 60 and any suitable connection such as a removable screw-threaded stud may be employed in this connection and the said link is provided at spaced points throughout its length with similar removable connectionstl) with each of the successively aligned dispensing .valve operating handles 6|, 62, 63 and 54. By this said link arrangement, it will be seenthat very little additional force will be necessary to effect simultaneous operation of the four valves 29 in addition to valves 29 and 29.

In Figure}, valves .29 and 29 are provided in what may be termed the U portion of the manifold and there are four additional valves and suitable connections to the manifold as will be clearly seen.

1 of the manifold. In other words, Figure 6 is a ship. The crank pin 54 is provided with an en- .larged head 54' so as to maintain the connecting rods in operative slidable relationship with each other and with the crank pins 54.

The slots 55' in the ends of the connecting rods provide for a lost motion connection, so to speak, the function of which will be later described.

- Each of the outer ends 51 of the said connecting rods are connected to the operating handles 5d of the valves 29 and 4Z9 as clearly seen in Figures 3 and 5. The-connection of the outer ends of the said connecting rod may constitute removable screw-threaded studs or bolts 51', as shown in Figure 5, or ball and socket connections, as shown at 57" in Figure 3. In both of the said connections as regards the outer ends of the connecting rods, the, same should be removable connections ,in order to permit manual operation of one or mere duplication of the invention as disclosed by Figure 3 by reason of a continuation of the manifold 3i to the left side of the disclosure as in Figure 3. By this construction and arrangement illustrated in Figure 6, five cans may be filled with oil on each side of the manifold and these cans may be of the same or various sizes, depending upon the quantity of oil metered and the dispensing thereof controlled by the particular set of gears that may be engaged.

It is to be understood that the quantity of oil to be dispensed by my automatic can filling apparatus is determined by the ratio of theaforesaid various sets of gears that may be engaged and which gearing when engaged rotates crank disc i5 and thereby controls opening and clos ing of the said valves and the amount or quantity of oil to be dispensed into the cans. For example, say that gears 44 and 44 are in mesh, to dispense a quantity of oil, taking as an arbitrary figure say twogallons through each spout, assuming that we are using two spouts, namely the spouts of valves 29 and 29, the quantity of oil dispensed would be four gallons with one revolution of the crank disc l5. Now, if the number be increased to dispense through four spouts, two on each side of the manifold, only one gallon of oil would be dispensed through each spout on one revolution of the crank disc l5. If, however, the number of spouts are doubled, then to maintain flow into four two-gallon cans, two on either side of the manifold, the gear ratio on crank disc [5 must be doubled.

As another example, assume thatwhen the one gallon of liquid is dispensed through the measuring device, shaft l2, which is connected to the metering device 5, and counter device C has made one complete revolution. In other words, as shown in the drawings, the gears 35 and 35 areof two-to-one ratio and the gears 45 and 45' are two-to-one ratio which results ina four-toone ratioof the crank shaft disc i5. While shaft i2 is making four revolutions, the crank ing operation of the valves.

shaft disc, therefore, is making one revolution and consequently dispensing four gallons of oil.

The particular'ratio of the gearing disclosed as clearly seen in Figure 4 is such that when gears 44 and 44' are in mesh,five quart cans may be filled;'when gears I5 and 45' are in mesh, two gallon cans may be filled; when gears gallons of oil would be dispensed through the 41 and 41' are inmesh, five gallon cans may be J filled; and when gears 46 and 46' are in mesh,

fifteen gallon cans may be filled. 1

This is just one example of the flexibility of the combination of the different sized cans that may be filled and, of course, other sized cans, depending upon the difierent gear ratio, may be filled.

By referring to Figure 5,, wherein the connecting rods i6 and ii are attached only to the valve operating handles 58 of valves 29 and 29' respectively, the length of the slot 55' in each connectthe said crank disc I5 is moved in'a clockwise direction, Figure 5, as indicated by the arrow, and due to the connection from said disc by means of the crank arm SI and crank pin 54 operating in the said slots at the ends of the said connecting rods, as the crank disc i5 revolves, it moves the 'said connecting rodsli and i1 into a substantially horizontal plane and thereby actuates valves 29 and 29*.

This said operation is such that when the valve 29 is opening, the valve 29* is closing, and the opening and closing of this valve is gradual and thereby results in filling the cans with oil without causing a splashing of the oil over the tops of the cans and on to the outer sides thereof. Toremove the filled cans and replace the empty cans so as to be filled with oil through the discharging spouts of say the valves 29 and 29 depends entirely upon the skill of the operator.

The means of bringing the empty cans into registry below each of the dispensing spouts of the said valves forms no part of my invention, but it is contemplated, however, that by using an endless conveyor, not shown, synchronized with my automatic can filling apparatus, speed of operation is entirely controlled by the flow of liquid through the measuring device, header valve 2 on the inflow side of the meter from a run down tank, not shown, and can be opened or closed to a point for the most efficient speed as desired.

an example of the flexibility of filling cans of various sizes simultaneously, we will assume, preferring to Figure 3, that the can indicated at D is of a five gallon capacity, and that the other five cans indicated at E are of one gallon capacity each, and further assuming that the crank disc is is set in operation by means of the properly selected and meshed gears, one gallon will be dispensed into each of the said gallon cans and Thus, assuming that outlet nozzle of 29' and fill the can and then while this valve is closing, the'other valve 2! would be opening and similarly dispense five gallons of oil into the can below its discharge nozzle.

In using my can filling apparatus, any and all {containers from 8,'ounces up to 55 gallon drums [may be filled. In a filling machine of this type, 10

using a gear arrangemena as described, to actuat the opening and closing operation of the valves, the quantit'ybf material dispensed is predetermined bythe set 'ofrgears engaged. Any

combination of 'gea'rs with any desired ratio may be inserted' in the gear case assembly and not ,merely' the four "combinations which are shown in thedrawings' and described herein.

What is claime'dis: 1'. In a gravity fiow' dispensing apparatus for filling cans' of varioussizes with a liquid and utilizing'the' force 'of fiowof'- liquid. to be dispensed to control-and operate the same, including a manifold to receive the liquid, spaced dispensing outlet valves communicating with the manifold, means to operate said outlet valves, and means to operate said valve operating means including achange speed transmission gearing mechanism whereby cans of various sizes may be filled with the liquid.

2. In a gravity flow dispensing apparatus for filling cans of various sizes with a predetermined quantity of liquid and utilizing, as the sole source of power for operation of the same, the force created by the liquid flowing therethrough, consisting of meter-controlled valve means, a manifold connected with the metering means, said manifold having spaced dispensing outlet valves secured thereto, rotatable mechanical means motivated by a change speed gearing mechanism and including connections with the said outlet valves for operating same and regulating the quantity of liquid dispensed through said outlet valves.

3. In a gravity flow dispensing apparatus for filling cans of various sizes with a predetermined quantity of liquid and utilizing, as the sole source of power for operation of the same, the force created by the liquid flowing therethrough, consisting of valve controlled metering means, a-

manifold connected with the metering means, said manifold having spaced dispensing outlet valves secured thereto, I rotatable mechanical means motivated by a change speed gearing mechanism and including connections with the said outlet valves for operating same andregu lating the quantity of liquid dispensed through said outlet valves, and the dispensing of liquid being such that av relatively small quantity is dispensed into the cans which is gradually increased as the filling progresses and then is gradually decreased, so that when the flow of liquid ceases, the cans are properly filled without splashing any of the contents thereof over the outer sides of the cans.

five gallons will be simultaneously dispensed into the five gallon container D.

Now, further assume that two five gallon containers' are to be filled, then only valves 29 and 29* would be utilized,- and this can. be accom- -plished by readily detaching the link 59 from the valve operating handle 5tv of the valve 29 and the operation then would be'that first five valve operating means, and a gearing connection between the metering means andthe change through said gearing connection powers the transmission, the latter effecting operation of the outlet valve control and operating means whereby when different selected gearing combinations of the said transmission are inoperation, cans of various sizes may be filled with liquid.

5. The apparatus as described in and'by claim 4 wherein the operating means for said outlet valve is a crank disc carrying thereon a crank pin, the latter operating in slots in overlapped ends of said connecting rods and providing a lost motion connection therewith and thereby affectme a gradual opening and closing of at least one of the valves and a simultaneous closing and opening of at least another one of the said valves.

6. In an invention of the character described including means to effect automatic gravity flow filling of cans with liquid, a manifold operatively connected with said gravity flow of liquid, a plurality of spaced outlet valves each having an .op-

erating handle and each communicating with the manifold, valve operating mechanism for connected with and motivating said rotatable crank,

and means including the continuous liquid gravity flow of the liquid to be dispensed for motivating the said change speed mechanism whereby liquid of predetermined quantities may be continuously dispensed into cans of various sizes.

7. In an invention of the character described including means to eiiect automatic gravity flow filling of cans with liquid, a manifold to receive liquid from the gravity flow filling means, a plurality of spaced outlet valves each having an opcrating handle and each secured to the manifold, valve operating mechanism for controlling and operating the said outlet valves consisting of a rotatable crank and crank pin carried thereon, connecting rods each provided with a similar slot atone end thereof and connected with said crank pin, and each of said rods having its other end connected with an adjacent two of the said outlet valve handles, change speed gearing mechanism, said change speed mechanism being operatively connected with and motivating said rotatable crank, and means for motivating the said change speed mechanism whereby liquid of predetermined quantities may be dispensed into posed adjacent the U-portion of the manifold and including several sets of gears of different ratios and adapted to operate upon proper selection of the desired ratio set, depending upon the quantity of liquid to be dispensed, the said" valve operating means consisting of a rotatable crank having a crank pin thereon and connecting rods each having a similar slotted end and connected with said crank pin and each of the other ends thereof being connected with handles on the spaced valves adjacent the U-portlon of the manifold, and a link, attached at one end to the operating handle of the innermost of the immediately aforesaid valves and also attached to the spaced operating handles of each of the remaining valves whereby upon motivation of the change speed mechanism .and consequent rota-, tion of said crank and connecting rods the said valves are all operated simultaneously and at least one of said valves is closing when the remaining valves are opening or vice versa.

9. In an invention of the character described including means providing for a gravity flow of liquid to be dispensed, a manifold having communication with the said gravity flow liquid means and provided with a plurality of spacedoutlet valves each having an operating handle thereon disposed in the same vertical plane, change speed mechanism and means for operating said valves; said manifold consisting of a U- ,shaped portion and an horizontally extending portion, aid change speed mechanism being disposed adjacent the U-portion of the manifold and including several sets of gears of different ratios and adapted to operate upon proper selection of the desired ratio set, depending upon the quantity of liquid to be dispensed, said change speed mechanism having operative connection with said gravity liquid flow means for the,

operation of said change speed mechanism by the force of gravity flow of the liquid, the said valve operating means consisting of a rotatable crank having a crank pin thereon and connecting rods each having a similar slotted end and connected with said crank pin and each of the other ends thereof being connected with handles on the spaced valves adjacent the U-porticn of the manifold, and a link attached airone end to the operating handle of the innermost of the immediately aforesaid valves and also attached to the spaced operating handles of each of the remaining valves whereby upon motivation of the change speed mechanism and consequent rotation of said crank and connecting rods the said vvalves are all operated simultaneously and at least one of said valves is closing when the remaining valves are opening or vice verso.

10. In an invention of the character described including a manifold with a plurality of spaced outlet valves each having an operating handle thereon disposed in the same vertical plane, change speed mechanism and means for operating said valves; said manifold consisting of a central U-shaped portion and a horizontally extending portion on each side thereof, said change speed mechanism being disposed adjacent the said U-portion of the manifold and including several sets of gears of diiferent ratios and adapted to operate upon proper selection of the desired ratio set depending upon the quantity of liquid to be dispensed, the said valve operating means consisting of a rotatable crank having a crank pin thereon and connecting rods each having a similar slotted end which is connected with said crank pin and each of the other ends thereof being connected with handles on the spaced valves adjacent the U-portion of the manifold,

and a horizontally disposed link attached to the handles of the immediately aioresaid valve handles and each link also being attached toeach of the remaining valve handles on each side ofthe U formation of the manifold whereby upon motivation of the change speed mechanism and consequent rotation of said crank, and connecting rods. the said valves are all operated simultaneously with the valves on one 'side oi the U-formation closing and opening while the valves on'the other side of the U-iormation are opening and closing or vice versa. I ll. In an invention of the character described -=ior eflecting automatic gravity \flow of liquid for filling of cans, asource of gravity feed liquid supply and a dispensing means, including a speed changing gear mechanism operatively connected fto the said supply source and set into operation by'the gravity fiow of the liquid through said supply source and a. liquid discharge means leading from said supply source, the said speed changing mechanism being settable to control the speed 01' the latter means so as to discharge the liquid in selected pre-determined quantities.

12. In an automatically operating continuous gravity fiow can-filling apparatus, including a displacement metering device using as its sole motivating power the force of the liquid flowing therethrough to operate the same, a liquid conveying manifold having communication with said I displacement metering device, spaced valved outlets communicating with the manifold for the dispensing of pre-determined quantities of liquid to the cans to be filled, and meansoperatively connected to and operated by said displacement metering device and selectively connected to said valved outlets to operate the valves of said valved outlets alternately, one valved outlet opening as the other closes, said last mentioned means including a rotatable crank actuated by the last mentioned means as the latter operates, a crank pin carried by the rotatable crank and rods connected at one end to the valves of the valved outlets and at their opposite ends having loose,

slotted, lost-motion, overlapping connection with said crank pin so that incident to said lost-motion connection between said rods and said crank pin at one point of rotation 01 said crank, as when the crank pin'slides through the slots of said rods, a filled can under the respective closed valved outlet may be removed and another can substituted therefor to be filled.

g 13. In an automatically operating gravity fiow can-filling apparatus, a displacement metering device utilizing as its sole motive power the force of liquid fiowing-therethrougha liquid conveying manifold having communication with said displacement metering device, a plurality of valved liquid discharge outlets communicating with the said manifold, speed-changing transmission means operatively connected to the said displacement metering device and operated thereby as the latter operates under the influence of moving force of the liquid and having operative connection with the valves of said valved discharge outlets to calibrate pre-determined quanevice utilizing as its sole motive power the forcetities of liquid to be discharged and to actuate the valves of the valved outlets whereby to provide for a continuous discharge of liquids into the cans in pre-determined quantities and in accordance with the sizes of the cans.

14. In an automatically operating gravity flow can-filling apparatus, a displacement metering 7 closing movements of said one of the first menmission means operatively connected to the said displacement metering device and operated thereby as the latter operates under the influence of moving force of the liquid and having operative connection with the valves of said valved dis- .charge outlets to calibrate .pre-determined quantities of liquid to be discharged and to actuate the valves of the valved outlets whereby to provide for a continuous discharge of liquids into the cans in pre-determine quantities and in accordance with the sizes of the cans, said operative connections between the speed-changing transmission means and the said valved outlets including a rotatable crank, rotatable under the influence of the operative connections between the speed-changing transmission means and the displacement metering device, and rods operatively connecting the valves of the respective valved discharge outlets and the said rotatable crank, said rods having a lost-motion connection with said crank. r

15; In an automatically operating gravity flow can-filling apparatus, a displacement metering device utilizing as its sole motive power the force of liquid flowing therethrough, a liquid conveying manifold having communication with said displacement metering device, a plurality of valved liquid discharge outlets communicating with the said manifold, speed-changing transmission means operatively connected to the said displacement metering device and operated thereby as the latter operates under the influence of moving force of the liquid and having operative connection with the valves of said valved discharge outlets to calibrate pro-determined quantities of liquid to be discharged and to actuate the valves of the valved outlets whereby to provide for continuous discharge of liquids into the cans in pre-determined quantities and in accordance with the sizes of the cans, said operative connections between the speed-changing transmission means and the said valved outlets including a rotatable crank, rotatable under the influence of the operative connections between the speedchanging transmission means and the displacement metering device, and rods operatively connecting' the valves of the respective valved discharge outlets and the said rotatable crank, said rods having a lost-motion connection with said crank, other valved discharge outlets having communication with said manifold, and a link having operative connection with the valves of said other valved discharge outlets and with one o! the first mentioned valved discharge outlets for opening and closing the valves of the other valved discharge outlets in unison with the opening and tioned valveddischarge outlets for the discharge of tlliquid into cans aligning with the respective ou ets.

16. In an apparatus of the character described,

means for conveying liquid under gravity fiow, a liquid dispensing means having communication with the gravity fiow conveying means and-ineluding spaced valved outlets, said valved outlets operating alternately, one closing as the other opens, means for operating said valves, including a rotatable crank having a crank pin, and rods,

each pivoted atone end to one of said valves and having their opposite ends overlapping and pivotally and slidably connected to said crank pin.

17. In an apparatus of the character described, means for conveying liquid under gravity flow, a liquid dispensing means having communication with the gravity flow conveying means and including spaced valved outlets, said valved outlets operating alternately, one closing as the other opens, means for operating said valves, including v a rotatable crank having a crank pin, androds, each pivoted at one end to one of said valves and having their opposite ends overlapping and pivotally and slidably connected to said crank pin,

sets of other valved outlets communicating with v th dispensing means and arranged on opposite sides of the aforesaid spaced valved outlets and pivotally connected to each of the valved outlets of the set on one side of the aforesaid spaced valved outlets, arid a link pivotally connected to the other of said spaced valved outlets and pivotally connected to each of the valved outlets of the 20 1,808,163

other of said sets of valved outlets, said sets of valved outlets thereby operating alternately with relation to each other and in unison, one set with relation to the valved outlet with which the respective link is pivotally connected.

18. In an apparatus of the character described, means for conveying liquid by'gravity to be dispensed, spaced valved outlet means leading from the gravity flow means, a liquid controlling and regulating means operatively connected to the liquid conveying means and through its connections with the latter means driven in operation solely by the force of the gravity flow of liquid to be dispensed, and means pivotally connected to the spacedvalved outlet means and having piv- 'otal and slidable connection with the controlling and regulating means to operate the latter con- .tinuously during the gravity flow of the liquid and to dispense the liquid in pre-determined quantities through the valved outlet means.

' IVER WILFRED SEVERSON.

RERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

.I i ll STATES PATENT8 

